News

Daily news update: Body found after Midrand fire | Simelane faces ANC probe | 7 provinces face 2028 education crisis

News today includes a woman’s body has been recovered under rubble and a roof that collapsed during a fire that broke out at the Broadwalk Urban Village complex in Midrand.

Meanwhile, the African National Congress (ANC) has confirmed that Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Thembi Simelane will appear before the party’s integrity commission on Wednesday.

Furthermore, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has projected that seven provinces will not be able to afford their budgets in the 2027/28 financial year.

Advertisement

News Today: 26 September 2024

The weather service has warned of extremely high fire danger conditions are expected over most parts of North West and Free State, and the northern parts of the Northern Cape as well as over the Limpopo Valley the Western Bushveld and the Lowveld of Limpopo.– full weather forecast here.

Stay up to date with The Citizen – More News, Your Way.


Woman’s body found after fire destroys Midrand apartment complex

A woman’s body has been recovered under rubble and a roof that collapsed during a fire that broke out at the Broadwalk Urban Village complex in Midrand.

Advertisement

The City of Johannesburg Emergency Medical Services (EMS) firefighters responded to the fire on Tuesday evening.

Picture: Robert Mulaudzi/X

According to EMS spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi, the fire, which originated on the second floor, affected about 130 apartments.

CONTINUE READING: Woman’s body found after fire destroys Midrand apartment complex

Advertisement

Longwe Twala placed under house arrest in R200k theft case

Longwe Twala, son of legendary musician Chicco Twala, has been released from police custody on warning in his theft case.

However, he has been placed under house arrest until his trial is finalised, after being in custody for an extended period due to multiple postponements.

Longwe Twala’s conditions of house arrest are reportedly strict. Photo. Tsheko Kabasia. © Sowetan

Longwe and his younger brother Sello were arrested for theft last month after their father opened a case at the Douglasdale police station.

Advertisement

CONTINUE READING: Longwe Twala placed under house arrest in R200k theft case


Thembi Simelane in the hot seat before ANC’s integrity commission

The African National Congress (ANC) has confirmed that Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Thembi Simelane will appear before the party’s integrity commission on Wednesday.

Simelane has been making headlines after taking a R575,600 loan from Gundo Wealth Solutions.

Advertisement
Justice Minister Thembi Simelane and Democratic Alliance (MP) Glynnis Breytenbach. Deputy Justice Minster Andries Nel is at the back. Picture: GCIS

The company allegedly brokered unlawful investments into the Venda Building Society (VBS) Mutual Bank by the Polokwane Municipality while Simelane was mayor in 2016.

CONTINUE READING: Thembi Simelane in the hot seat before ANC’s integrity commission


Incomplete Public Works projects bill reaching almost R4bn

The Auditor General of South Africa (AGSA) has highlighted the scale of stagnation within the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI).

The financial custodians briefed the portfolio committee overseeing the department, confirming that over 100 projects were sitting incomplete or fallow.

Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean Macpherson. Picture: Jacques Nelles

Noting the cost of the unrealised benefits of the projects, the AGSA counted their value at R3.9 billion.  

CONTINUE READING: Incomplete Public Works projects bill reaching almost R4bn


Seven provinces will not be able to afford education budgets in 2028, says Gwarube

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has projected that seven provinces will not be able to afford their budgets in the 2027/28 financial year.

This is due to budget pressures being experienced by the department, with provinces now scrambling to make it work by cutting some programmes to save others.

Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube. Picture: Gallo Images/Lefty Shivambu

In the Western Cape, the department has decided to reduce the basket of teaching posts for 2025. This will result in fewer teachers in classrooms, while pupils increase.

CONTINUE READING: Seven provinces will not be able to afford education budgets in 2028, says Gwarube


In other news today:


Yesterday’s News recap

READ HERE: Earth tremor, Nersa, Ramaphosa and Musk and the Springboks

For more news your way

Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.

Published by
By Chulumanco Mahamba
Read more on these topics: Daily news update